Automatic telephone switch



Deg, 2, 1924. 1,517,425

C. J. HENDRICKSON ET AL.

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE swITcH Filed Jan. '7, 1922 lllll,

, ull\|I..Ml.\\ t1 UN/Wl if?. 2 f

,. www@ lll! m.

Patented 2, i924,

CHARLES J. I-IENDRICKSN AND VIGE'GB F TO WESTERN .ELECTRIC CQMPANY, 1NCO..;PO

PORATION OF NEVI YORK,

' ,BLLR, GF NEW YGRK, N. Y., ASSEGNORS MTETD, Oli NEW YGRK, N. Y., A COR- .AUTGMATIC TELEPHGNE SWITCH.

Application tiled Senuary 7, 1922. Serial No. 527,564,

T0 NZZ @elim/iv if may confiera:

lie it known that we7 directies Ji'. Hiattni-ncn on and TJic'ron F. Mn inn. citizens ot the United States, both residing` at New 'Yorin in the county of New orllzy State oit New York? have invented certain new and nsetnl ln'zproveinents in Automatic Telephone Switches, ot which the toll-owing' is a tall? clear. concise, and exact description. rihis invention relates to automatic s yitching al'iparatus and more particularly coordinate switches of the type adapted to'r establishing connections in an automatic telephone exchange system.

lrlhe present invention is an improvement on the switch structure described inthe copending application of Herbert B. Taylor, Serial No. 5277586 iiled January 7, 1922, and likewise the switch structure described in the British Patent No. $3,438 issued to lilestern Electric Company, Limited accepted Septemliier 6, 1923. rlhe last-mentioned British patent is directed to an antoniatic telephone system in which the present structure is particularly well adapted ttor nse. ln that system, certain .rotatable bars are each assigned to groups ot incoming' lines`v `other rotatable bars are assigned individually to link conductors and still others to outgoing lines or trunls. Each ot the incomin line bars being;h associated with a plurality ot incoming' lines isy necessarily, operable to participate in the establishment et coenisting connections between a plurali y voit its associated incoming lines and idle trunks and by snch arrangement a very important economy is effected in that the number ot operating` bain and auxiliary parts is materially reduced.

It has been tound that successive operations ot the line bars oit the switch structure shown and described in the above noted. British Patent No. 1837438 oft 1923 sometimes has a tendency to disturb existing connections sutiiciently to produce noise on the snbscribers lines. This is due to the tact that a mechanical connection continues to exist between the operated contacts and the line bar.

in the copending application of H. B. Taylor, referred to above, there is described and claimed a switch structure by which the above tendency is eliminated.

'llhe present invention notonly overcomes the above tendency but in addition provides a structure in which the line bar operating;` nfiagnets are required to perform a small and uniform amount ot work compared with the widely varying` load in switches oit' this type developed heretofore, and it also provides a simpler and more economical device from a manufacturing standpoint.

The object ot this invention is therefore to provide a simple and economical switch structure 'ot the character above described having' operating means common 'to `groups ot incoming' lines whereby successive operations: ot such common operating` means are ineiiiective to disturb existing` connections.

A further object ot the invention is te provide a switch structure wherein the line bar magnets are required to move a comparatively small and uniform load` The principal feature oiC the invention consists in the combination with normally disengaged contacts oic an operating; mechanism comprising; an operating member which is normally movable in a path wherein it is inei'tective with respect to the contacts and preferably in the torni oit a cam or the like tor diverting` the aforementioned member trom its normal path to ettect operation ot the contacts. ln the setting; up ot a corn nection the operating member engages the cam whereby it is diverted trom its normal path, but in continuing this movement becomes disengaged therefrom so that subsequent operations of the cam carrying medium are inettective with respect to the established connection.

Other features of the invention will be clear Jfrom the detailed description which liollows.

With reference to the accompanying drawing7 l is a fragmentary perspective view ot a coordinate switch in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2, is a detail View illustrating the operation 'of the switch mechanism, and 3 i-s a view similarto Fin; 2 further illustrating' the operation of the switch mechanism.

The structure shown consists in general of a stationary grid comprising` the vertical bars of insulating' material i., and sets of interwoven cross wires 2, 3, l and 5 referred to .selectively operable means,

ll t) hereinafter as link coiidnctors, together with vertical rows oit active wire contact sets '7, 8 and 9 and operating mechanism ttor selectively moving the various sets oli active oontact wires into engagement with their associated link conductors.

The structure may be olf any desired width and height to acconnnodate as iriany vertical rows oit active contact sets and as many sets per row may be required.

Certain ot the vertical rows of contact sets are assigned to incomingl lines and the others to outgoing' lines or trunks. Since there are only two such vertical rows illustrated in Figi', 1,. it may be assumed that the vertical row to the lett oit the tigure is one ot those which are assigned to inconiinl@` lines and that the vertical row to the i. f)'ht oit the ligure iis one ot those which are assigned to outgoing lines or trunks.

Each ver al row which is assigned to incoming` iines is. according;- to the system described in the aforementioned British Patent 188;'1-38 et 1928, divided into a plurality ot groups each comprising` a plurality ot active contact sets, which are connected in multiple to an incomingline. Since each active contact set of any vertical row is associated with a. ditl'erent set ot link conductors, it will be apparent that each incoming); line has access to several sets ot link conductors. but since there are ordinarily several vertical rows of active contact sets assigned to incoming' lines, it will also be apparent that several incoming1 lines have access to each set ot link conductors. lt is. theret'ore, seen that the sets ot link conductors are apportioned to the incoming' lines on a. percentage basis, the number depending' upon tratic requirements.

The active contact wires G. 7, 8 and 9 are made preferably ot a suitable spring metal such as phosphor bronze and in the pre instance are embedded in vertical bar," insulating` material. 10.y which are supported at their end portions in the switch trame which not shown. The rearwardly extending ends oi' the active contact wires may be -formed, it desired, into soldering;` terminals whereby suitable electrical connections may be obtained.

.Each set ot' active contact wires is provided with an operatingT card 11 having diae'onal apertures 12 through which. the active wires extend in juxtaposition to the grid wires or link conductors. The operating' cards 11 are shown supported on resilient wires 13 which like the active contact wires are embedded in the vertical bars 10. The free ends of the wires 13 are tensioned downwardly so as to normally hold the active contact wires out of engagement with their associated link conductors and the upper one ol each pair et wires 13 is made oit such length as to normally rest on the top wire oit the link conclu-Stor set asso elated therewith, thus acting as a back stop for the active contact wires.

.Vith each vertical row ol" activeA contact sets there is associated a vertical rotatable bar 14 which is provided at one end with an armature 15 arranged to be attracted by an electromagnet 1G whereby the bar 14 is rotated out et its normal position in rcsponse to each energization ot said electromagnet. On each vertical bar 14: there is provided a number ot cam arms or guides 1.7. each oit which is individual to a set ot active contact wires. The function of these cam arms vwill presently be shown.

llVith each set o1n link conductors, 2, 3, #l and 5 there is associated a horizontal ro tatable bar 1S, each ot which is provided with an armature 19 and an electromagnet 2O whereby the bar is rotated trom normal to ott normal position. Each horizontal bar or link bar, as it may be properly termed. is provided with a number ot arms 21 which are resilient in the horizontal direction, but comparatively7 stili' vertically. Each ot these arms 21 is individually associated with a set of active contact wires and a cam arm 17.

The operating cards 11 are each provided at their lower ends with a notch or recess 22 with which their associated arms 21 are adapted to eng-age, but it will be noted that. normally, arms 21 are .tree to move in aI vertical path to one side ot their respectively associated operating cards 11. This is true. however, only while the cam arm 17 associated with any ol the arms 21 is in its normal position as shown at the lower ri glithand portion of Fig. 1 wherein the arm 2l is shown in its oit normal ineffective position.

lllhen the vertical bar 141: is rotated out oi its normal position by electromagnet '16. the end portions 11T ot the cam arms YIT thereof are moved into a position wherein they intercept the paths ot their associated arms 21 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fie'. 2 shows a cross section oit the end portion 17 ot a cam arm which has been moved into its selected position and also shows in full lines an end view of an arm 21 in its normal position and in dotted lines other positions ot the arm 21 as it moves upwardly and is flexed laterally to engage the recess 22 oli the operating card 11. The continued movement of the arm 21 as illustrated in Fig. 2 results in lifting the operating card 11 so as to permit the active contact wires 6, 7, 8 and 9 to engage the link conductors 2, 3, l and 5 respectively. The operated link bar together with the arms 21 thereon remain in their off normal position throughout the duration of the connection, but the vertical bars 14 may be immediately restored to' normal. The arm 21 in its operated position is entirely clear of its associated cam arm 17 so that any subsequent movement of the cam arm is ineffective to disturb the connection already established.

its soon as a v rrtical bar 'lll associated with a rfi-cup of incoming lines and a .horizontal .limi bar 18 have been operated to establish a connection, the vertical bar iftmay be iinmediately reoperated to participate in the connection oit another et its associated iocoining lines with a set oit idle link conductors. Thus, :it will be seen that a cam arm 1.7 may operate several times during a period in which its associated contact set continues (,perated and it such successive operations were to even slightly disturb the eX- isting connection an objectionable ainount oli' noise would result on the subscribers lines.

lt should be noted that the load on the magnets 1G associated with incoming lines does not vary with the number ot coeiristing connictions as is the case with the switch structures previously referred to and accordingly magnets 16 may be ot relatively small size.

ln the system described in the aforementioned British Patent No. 188,438 ot 1923 the incoming lines and outgoing lines or trunks are simultaneously connected to common link conductors and this is accomplished by tiret rotating two vertical bars, one of which is associated with a particular group ot incoming lines `and the other with an idle trunk and thereafter rotating a horizontal bar which vis associated with an idle set of linlt conductors accessible to the particular incoming line which it is desired to connect with. ln a system o'l'i that character then, only two ot the arms 21 ot any link bar 18 would be in use at any one tinie but all the arms 21 of the operated link bar are in their uppermost positions regardless ot the 'tact that all but two are performing .no function. Fig. 8 illustrates in tall lines an arm 2.1 in its upper non-operating position, and a cross section through the end portion 1T ot a cam arm 17 in its selected position. Now in the event of the link bar 18 which carries arm 2,1 of Fig. 3 being restored to normal while the cam arm 17 remains in its selected position as shown, it is essential that the arm 21 shall be able to return to normal immediately. The present :invention provides tor such restoration by having' the baclt surface of the end portion ot the cam disposed at an angle to the path ci? arm 5./)1 so that upon the arm 21 engaging therewith on its return movement it will be flexed to one side and around the end portion ot the cam as indicated. by the arrows in Fig. 3.

that is claimed is:

1. A switch structure comprising active and passive contacts, a member for operating said contacts, said member being normally movable independently o t the active contacts in a path wherein it is ineffective to opel. te seid active contacts, and means eiectire, iviien operated, to cause said meniber while moving in its normal path to dev'iate from its said path to opera-te said active contacts.

2. i switch structure comprising active and Apassive contacts, a member tor operating said active contacts, said member being normally operable independently ol. the active contacts and ineilectively with. respect to said active contacts, a guide, and i'neans :tor moi:- ing said guide whereby said guide is operable to cause a subsequent operation ot said member to be etliective with respect to said active contacts.

3. A switch structure comprising norn'iallv disengaged contacts, a. member tor operating' said contacts, said member being normally movable separately from the contacts in a path wherein it is inetllective to operate said contacts, and a cam effective, when operated to cause said member to deviate from its normal path to operate said contacts.

4. A switch. structure comprising normally disengaged contacts, a member for operating said cont-acts, said member being normally movable separately from the contacts in a path wherein it is inedective to operate said contacts, means 'for operating' said member, a cam, and means tor moving said cam into the path ot said member whereby said member is caused to deviate from its normal path to operate said contacts.

5. Aswitch structure comprising normally disengaged contacts, a member for operating said contacts, said member being operable ineiiectively with respect to said contacts, a cam, and means for moving' said cam whereby said cam is operable to cause a subsequent operation ot said member to elfect connection between said contacts, said coni'iectiou being unalli'ected during its continuation by subsequent operations oit said cam.

6. A. switch structure con'iprisingnorn'ially disengaged contacts, a pair of coordinately disposed bars, a rotatable resilient nieinber carried by one ot said bars, a cam carried by the other of said bars, means for operating the first-mentioned bar to move said resilient member, means tor operating the second.- mentioned bar to move said cam, a movement et said cam followed by a movement ot said resilient member being effective to interenojage said contacts.

C7, it switch structure comprising normally disengaged contacts, a pair oft coordinately disposed rotatable bars, a resilient member carried by one of said bars, a cam carried by the other ot said bars, means for rotating said tirst-n'ientioned bar, means 'for rotating said second-mentioned bar, an operation oi.3 said second-mentioned bar followed by an operation or said first-mentioned bar being effective to interengage said contacts, and operation ot said bars in the reverse order being inelteetive to inter-- engage said contacts.

S. it switch structure coniprising normally diseng 4,ejed contacts. a pair of co- :,-rdinately disposed. rotatal'ile bars. a resilient inenil'icr carried by one of; said bars, a cani carried by the other et said bars. means tor rotating; said inst-mentioned bar, means tor rotatinb ,'aid, secondementioned har, said cam having` two surfaces both oit which are disposed angularly to the normal path ot said resilient memlwnsaid cam in its oit-normal position being` disposed in the normal path ot said resilient member Vwhereby said rosilicnt member in its movement from norn'ial is engaged b v one ot said cam surfaces and thereby diverted trom its normal path to etlect interengagemcnt ot said contacts, the other ot said cam surtafues being' adapted to permit said resilient member to restore to normal from its otl-norn'ial .non-operating position while said cani is in its ott-normal position.

9. ln a switch structure, a plurality ot rows of passive Contact sets, a pluralitj` ot rows ot active contact sets, said last-mentioned rows being disposed coordinately to said iirst-mentioned rows, each set of active contacts being associated with a set ot passive contacts, a rotatable bar 'for each row oit passive contacts, a rotatable bar for each row oit active contacts.y said First-mentioned bars being;` disposed coordinately to said secyond-mentioned bars, each ot' said first-inentioned bars being` provided with a. plurality7 ot laterally extending resilient arms, one for cach set ot active contacts associated there- -,vith, each of said second-mentioned bars being provided with a plurality ot cams, one :tor each set et active contacts associated therewith, the conjoint rotation ot one each ot said bars being' effective to move their jointly associated set ot active contacts into engagement with its passive contacts, said engagement being independent of subsequent operations of one of the bars involved in its establishment.

10. In a switch structure coordinate rows ot Contact sets, coordinately disposed rotatable bars, cams on certain of said bars, each of said cams being associated with one of said contact sets, resilient members on others o1' said bars, each ot said resilient members being associated with one ot' said cams, the conjoint operation of one each of said bars when operated in a certain order being etfe'ctive to operate their conjointly associated contact set and conjoint operation of one each of said bars in the reverse order being inetlfective to operate their conjointly asso ciated contact set.

11. In a switch structure, passive contacts. active contacts norn'lally disengaged trom said passive contacts, an operatingi elemen t tor said active contat-,ts having` a recess, a rotatable bar, a resilient member carried h v said bar, said resilient member being' normalljY movable by the rotation ot said bar in a path wherein it does not engage he rer-ess olE said operating elei'nent, and n'ieans selectively operable to iex said resilient member during its movement from normal into engagement with 'the recess ot said operating' element to etliect interennagemcnt ot said active contacts with said passive contarts.

lf2. In a switch structure, a row olt contar-t sets. opera ting means common to said row, a pluralitjY ot other operatingmeans individual to said contact sets, said coinn'ion openating` ineans and one ot said individual operating' means being; jointly operable to operate one ot said contact sets, said coin-- mon operating' means being subsequently operable to participate in the operation ol" others ot said contact sets during the continued operation ot the first operated conta i; t set, said operated contact set being' main.- tained independently7 ot said common operatinn` means, whereby the load on said. coinmon operating means is suliistantially uni- Ptorni regardless ot the number ot its associated Contact sets which may be operated.

13. In a switch structure, a row ot Contact sets, an operating' bar common to said row, other operating bars individual to said contact sets, said common operating bar and one ot said individual operating' bars being jointly operable to operate one ol' said contact sets, said common ojieratinnr bar being` subsequently operable to participate in the operation of others oit said contact sets duringf the continued operation ot the first operated contact set, the load on said cornmon operating; bar being' substantially uniform regardless of the number o't its associated contact sets which may be operated..

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this th day of December' A. D., 1921.

CHARLES J. HENDRICKSON. VICTOR F. MILLER. 

